2. To cause to become involved or concerned with: tried to interest her in taking a walk.

3. Archaic To concern or affect.

Idiom:

in the interest/interestsof

To the advantage of; for the sake of: thinking in the interest of the whole family; ate breakfast on the train in the interest of time.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin, it is of importance, third person sing. present tense of interesse, to be between, take part in : inter-, inter- + esse, to be; see es- in Indo-European roots.]

interest

(ˈɪntrɪst; -tərɪst)

n

1. the sense of curiosity about or concern with something or someone: an interest in butterflies.

2. the power of stimulating such a sense: to have great interest.

3. the quality of such stimulation

4. something in which one is interested; a hobby or pursuit

5. (often plural) benefit; advantage: in one's own interest.

6. (often plural)

a. a right, share, or claim, esp in a business or property

b. the business, property, etc, in which a person has such concern

7. (Banking & Finance)

a. a charge for the use of credit or borrowed money

b. such a charge expressed as a percentage per time unit of the sum borrowed or used

8. (often plural) a section of a community, etc, whose members have common aims: we must not offend the landed interest.

9. declare an interest to make known one's connection, esp a prejudicial connection, with an affair

vb (tr)

10. to arouse or excite the curiosity or concern of

11. to cause to become involved in something; concern

[C15: from Latin: it concerns, from interesse; from inter- + esse to be]

in•ter•est

(ˈɪn tər ɪst, -trɪst) n.

1. a feeling of having one's attention, concern, or curiosity particularly engaged by something: She has an interest in architecture.

2. something that arouses such feelings; something in which one is interested: Chess is his only interest.

3. the power to excite such feelings; quality of being interesting: a subject that holds little interest for me.

4. concern or importance: a matter of primary interest.

5. a business, cause, etc., in which a person has a share, concern, or responsibility.

6. a legal share, right, or title, as in the ownership of property or in a business undertaking.

7. participation in a cause or in advantage or responsibility.

8. Often, interests. a group exerting influence on and often financially involved in an enterprise, industry, or sphere of activity.

9. the state of being affected by something in respect to advantage or detriment.

10. Often, interests. benefit; advantage: We have your best interests in mind.

11. regard for one's own advantage or profit; self-interest.

12. influence due to personal importance or capability.

13.

a. a sum paid or charged for the use of money or for borrowing money.

b. such a sum expressed as a percentage of the amount borrowed to be paid over a given period, usu. one year.

14. something added or thrown in above an exact equivalent: He returned the insult with interest.

v.t.

15. to engage or excite the attention or curiosity of.

16. to concern (a person, nation, etc.) in something; involve.

17. to cause to take a personal concern or share; induce to participate.

Idioms:

in the interest(s) of, for the sake of; on behalf of.

[1225–75; late Middle English, alter. of Middle English interesse < Medieval Latin, Latin: to concern, literally, to be between =inter-inter- + esse to be]

behalf - for someone's benefit (usually expressed as `in behalf' rather than `on behalf' and usually with a possessive); "in your behalf"; "campaigning in his own behalf"; "spoke a good word in his friend's behalf"

3.

interest - the power of attracting or holding one's attention (because it is unusual or exciting etc.); "they said nothing of great interest"; "primary colors can add interest to a room"

insurable interest - an interest in a person or thing that will support the issuance of an insurance policy; an interest in the survival of the insured or in the preservation of the thing that is insured

vested interest - (law) an interest in which there is a fixed right to present or future enjoyment and that can be conveyed to another

security interest - any interest in a property that secures the payment of an obligation

special interest - an individual or group who are concerned with some particular part of the economy and who try to influence legislators or bureaucrats to act in their favor

vested interest - groups that seek to control a social system or activity from which they derive private benefit

7.

interest - a diversion that occupies one's time and thoughts (usually pleasantly); "sailing is her favorite pastime"; "his main pastime is gambling"; "he counts reading among his interests"; "they criticized the boy for his limited pursuits"

diversion, recreation - an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates; "scuba diving is provided as a diversion for tourists"; "for recreation he wrote poetry and solved crossword puzzles"; "drug abuse is often regarded as a form of recreation"

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